Two arrested in Danbury heroin case

Denis J. O'Malley

Updated 11:11 pm, Monday, March 3, 2014

DANBURY -- An investigation into heroin dealing ended Friday with the arrests of two city residents and searches of the dealer's home and car, which turned up quantities of the drug, police said.

Equipped with search warrants for the vehicle and Osborne Street residence of Jose Garcia, 57, members of the Danbury Police Department's Special Investigations Division and Community Conditions Unit stopped his car on White Street on Friday, according to a news release issued by Danbury Police Lt. Christian Carroccio, the department's spokesman.

Officers found Garcia behind the wheel and Catherine Lodato, 53, of Danbury, a passenger, the release said. Officers found heroin packaged for sale in both Garcia's and Lodato's possession, police said.

Inside the car, a search found a compartment containing more heroin packaged for sale, the release said.

Soon after, officers searched Garcia's home and found a "substantial quantity" of both packaged and unpackaged heroin. Officers also found drug paraphernalia and thousands of dollars in cash inside the home, according to the release.

Garcia, who police said had been selling heroin from his home and car, was arrested on several drug-related charges, including possession of narcotics with intent to sell within 1,500 feet of a school.

He was held in lieu of $250,000 bond.

Lodato was charged with possession of narcotics and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was released on a promise to appear in court.